Demountable X-ray apparatus



April 30, 1957 R. C. SCHIR ING ETAL DEMOUNTABLE X-RAY APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 15, 1951 3 Shee't s-Sheet l April 30, 1957 R. c. SCHIRING ETAL 2,790,557

DEMOUNTABLE X-RAY APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 15, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS PALPH C- SCH/f/N /4/v77/0/vy f fizz-$420 April 30, 1957 R. c. SCHlRlNG ETAL DEMOUNTABLE X-RAY APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 15, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 53%? C. bv/iw/ra /Y7"/fcvvy Imam/7w ,drmlvsys Unite DEMOUNTABLE X-RAY APPARATUS Original application November 15, 1951, Serial No.

256,468, now Patent No. 2,754,426, dated July 10,-

States Patent 'ice 1956. Divided and this application June 28, 1956,

Serial No. 594,481

3 Claims. (Cl. 311-6) This invention relates to X-ray apparatus and particularly to apparatus that is especially suited, although not limited, to military use. This application is a division of our co-pending application Serial No. 256,468 filed November 15, 1951, now U. S. Patent Number 2,754,426 and entitled Demountable X-Ray Apparatus.

One of the most serious draw-backs to the use of X-ray equipment for military use is the weight. and size of the table and associated equipment. There is a great demand, however, for the construction of a portable X-ray unit which is capable of satisfactory use, either for fluoroscopic or for radiographic examination, and which is sufficiently light in weight and compact that it can be transported readily and quickly set up for use directly behind battle line in any location. All equipment heretofore devised for such purpose has been packed in too many separate containers, and has been inadequate from the viewpoint of satisfying the requirements of the medical field services with proper diagnostic X-ray equipment. In particular the equipment lacked a full-length rigid table and Was incapable of use for vertical fluoroscopy.

The principal object of the present invention is to make a demountable X-ray unit having a construction which is light in weight yet which is sutficiently rigid when assembled to permit the use of the table, either in horizontal or vertical position, and for either fluoroscopy or radiography.

The invention is carried out preferably by utilizing a box-like base which forms a support for a collapsible table and which comprises a support for the tube stand, allowing movement of the stand longitudinally as well as transversely of the table. The box is so made that the tube stand, screen arm and supporting structure therefor, as well as the screen and table, may be compactly stored within the base and closed by a portion of the table, so that the entire assembly assumes a trunk or chest-like appearance. The tube, the control equipment, and accessories may then be mounted in a separate chest, whereby there is provided a self-contained X-ray unit which is well adapted, though not especially limited, to field use.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is a perspective view of an X-ray table and tube stand in assembled position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the unit in closed position; Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the table in a position for vertical fluoroscopy; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the position of the table top during the tilting operation; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing one of the first steps in assembling the table; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a subsequent step in the assembly; Fig. 7 is a vertical section through a portion of the table top and support therefor; Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on a plane indicated by the line 8-8 in Fig. l; and Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the assembled X-ray fluoroscopy, whereas, Fig. 3 illustrates the table in vertical fluoroscopic position. The unit is also adapted for radiographic use. Fig. 2 shows the packed or stored condition of the unit, as comprising a chest-like structure. Referring first to the assembly of Fig. 1, the apparatus includes a box-like member 5 which constitutes a base upon which the unit is supported. The base may also comprise the body portion of the chest, the lid of which may comprise the front panel 8 which is adapted to be clamped to-the base, as by hasps 9. When assembled, as is shown in Fig. l, the base has a bottom wall 11,. side walls 12 and 13 and end walls 14 and 15 respectively- The base also supports the table which is illustrated as having a leg frame 20 at the front end and a leg frame 21 at the foot end, these being unitary structures which are hinged to the front panel at 22 and 23 respectively for folding against the front panel as is illustrated in Fig. 5. In use, the leg frames are swung outwardly, as is shown in Fig. 6, and are anchored to the base by wing bolts 24 and 25 respectively. The table framework is completed by the insertion of a detachable rail 26 which, as shown in Fig. 4, cooperates with a rail 27 on the top edge of the front panel to support a bucky indicated in general at 28.

The table top, in the assembled position, is positioned upon a head end support 31 and upon a foot end support 32 (Fig. l), the first of which is fixed to the head end of the table and is slidable along the rails 26 and 27, whereas the foot end support is removably fastened to the leg frame 21 by suitable fastening means and carries rollers 33 along which the table is adapted to be slid whenever it is desired that the table be shifted, as from the horizontal position of Fig. 1 to the vertical position of Fig. 3.

The front panel 8 is shielded to protect the operator against scattered radiation, but the back of the table underneath the rail 26 is open whereby the tube and shutter assembly may be positioned underneath the top as is shown in Fig. l, and may be moved as a unit with the screen, either longitudinally or transversely of the top, within the limits of carriage travel within the base.

One feature of the table top assembly is the fact that the top can be readily shifted from horizontal to vertical position or, can be maintained at any angular position as desired. Thus, in Figs. 4, 7 and 8, the table is shown as having side rails 40 which are adapted to receive the roller 33 journalled in the foot-end support 32. The head end of the table then has a bearing block 42 which is adapted to slide along the rail 26 and has a channelshaped claw 45 which embraces the rail 27 on the front panel. A notch 46 adjacent the midportion of the rail 27 allows the claw 45 to pass therethrough so that the table may be tipped about the axes of the rollers 33.

To lock the table in horizontal position, we have shown a lift pin 48 (Fig. 7) the handle of which projects through a slot 49 on one end of the head support 31, and which is adapted to pass through registering openings in the support 31, the claw 45 and the rail 27. The table may be locked in vertical position by means of a latch 5ft (Fig. 9) which is pivotally mounted at 51 on the table top flange 52, and which is adapted to engage behind a flange 53 on the front panel. A spring 54 urges the latch into locking position, but release may be accomplished merely by swinging the top 30 laterally in the direction of the arrow 55 (Fig. 3). This will move the latch laterally to the broken line position 50A of Fig. 9.

An advantage of the present invention is that the X-ray' unit is quickly adaptable to all standard techniques which are desirable for field units, including either horizontal or vertical fluoroscopy or radiography.

We claim:

1. An X-ray apparatus, comprising a demountable X-ray table having a front panelwand a rear guide rail, end frame members connecting the rail and panel and holding the rail in parallelism with the panel, the panel having a top rail thereon, a rigid table top having a member carried thereby and engaging the rails, rollers carried by one of said end frame members and operatively engaging the table top and guiding it for longitudinal movement with respect to the panel, said panel rail hav ing a notch intermediate its ends, through which said member may pass to permit tilting of the table about said rollers, whereby the table may be moved from horizontal to vertical fluoroscopic position.

2. An X-ray table comprising in combination, a front panel, leg frames carried by the panel adjacent the ends thereof, a bar connecting the frames, a rigid top extend ing for the length of the panel and being slidably mounted upon the panel and bar, means carried by one of the frames, and engaging t'he top and operating as :a pivotal connection for the top whereby it may be moved from horizontal to vertical fluoroscopic position, a member carried by the table top and cooperating with one of said rails to support the top for sliding movement in a direction extending longitudinally of the top, said last-mentioned rail having a notch therein intermediate the ends CJI thereof, said notch operating to permit passage of said member therethrough, and operating upon such passage to permit tilting of the table top.

3. An X-ray table having a front panel, leg frames attached to the panel, a rigid top extending the length of the panel, a rail connecting the frames, the panel having a rail extending along the top thereof, a pair of rollers carried by one of the frames and adapted to engage the table top and cooperate therewith to assist movement of the top longitudinally of the panel, and also operating as a pivot for tilting the top with reference to the panel, and a spacing block carried by the table and adapted to engage said rails and to cooperate with said rollers to facilitate sliding of the top longitudinally of the panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

